IEEE Inaba Technical Award for Innovation Leading to Production

About the Award

Description: To recognize original innovative research and concepts. Conceptual innovation has been evolved into a commercialized product based on the fundamental robotics and automation technology introduced by the researcher(s). Nominations should cite and describe the original work that has been translated into commercial application as well as the commercial product and its success. The current and future impact of the commercial product is a fundamental element of the merit for selection.
Established: 2007
Prize: $1,000 and Plaque. In case there are multiple winners, each recipient will receive a plaque and the honorarium will be split equally between the recipients. Up to one award will be given annually to the researcher (or team of researchers) whose conceptual innovation has been evolved into a commercialized product based on the fundamental robotics and automation technology introduced by the researcher(s).
Funding: Funded by a gift from Dr. Seiuemon Inaba for an initial period of up to 10 years, managed by the IEEE Foundation.
Eligibility: No restrictions as to IEEE membership, organization, nationality, race, creed, sex or age. In order to be eligible for the award, the initial conceptual innovation must have been described in a paper presented at a RAS sponsored/co-sponsored conference or have appeared in an RAS sponsored/co-sponsored publication; typically the appearance of the initial concept will be substantially before the time of the award.
Basis for Judging: Conceptual innovation has been evolved into a commercialized product based on the fundamental robotics and automation technology introduced by the researcher(s). Nominations should cite and describe the original work that has been translated into commercial application as well as the commercial product and its success. The current and future impact of the commercial product is a fundamental element of the merit for selection.
Presentation: Presented at the annual International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA).

Nomination form:


Winners of this Award

2023
Award not presented

2022
Award not presented

2021
Award not presented

2020
Award not presented

2019
Award not presented

2018
Award not presented

2017
Paulo Debenest, Michele Guarnieri, Shigeo Hirose
"For outstanding contributions to the application of robotics in the power distribution industry"

2016
Jean-Paul Laumond
"For outstanding contributions to motion planning commercialization in the robotics and automation industry"

2015
Hermano Igo Krebs
"For contributions to medical technology innovation and translation into commercial applications for Rehabilitation Robotics"

2014
Roland Siegwart 
"For outstanding contributions in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, for the development of novel robotic technologies and the transition of this technology to industry"

2013
Fan-Tien Cheng
"For contributions to the development of the Automatic Virtual Metrology {AVM) System"

2012
Award Not Presented

2011
J. Kenneth Salisbury
"For commercialization of products in medical robotics, robotics, and haptics"

2010
Alex Zelinsky
"For outstanding contributions to robotic technologies that have been commercialized in the automotive, sports and health care industries"

2009
Award Not Presented

2008
Rodney Brooks
"For research and entrepreneurial contributions to mobile robotics"

2007
Masahiro Fujita
"For creating AIBO, the world's first mass-market consumer robot for entertainment applications"

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